(04-19-2021 07:23 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  EKU lost two big components of the team. Kendall Green Jr. transferred to Auburn and Tre King to Georgetown.

Picked up two transfers from Marshall and a guard from Wichita State.

A couple of additions/corrections:

It's Wendell Green Jr. rather than Kendall.

But despite losing two first team All-OVC guys, I'm pumped about next year's team.

The two kids from Marshall are both 6'9". One is a big dude who can bang around inside, and the other kid is more athletic as well as a decent three-point shooter.

The kid from Wichita had originally committed to EKU last year and is circling back around (probably in response to the Green situation). He played with his brother in his lone year as a Shocker.

But Steve, you left out the biggest transfer grab of all which is Braxton Beverly who started nearly 90 games in the ACC at NC State. He had the most three pointers in his first two seasons of any player in NC State history, and he has an historically good A/TO ratio as well. He played for our head Coach AW Hamilton on the post-grad prep team at Hargrave Military Academy, is a native of Hazard, KY, and also spent a year with Hamilton when he was on the staff at NC State.

It's also worth mentioning that our leading scorer from 2018-19, Jomaru Brown, should be returning after missing all but four games with an injury this past season. Coming out of his sophomore season he was on-pace to leave EKU as the all-time leading scorer if he played four seasons. He tested the draft waters in 2019 before coming back to EKU.

Liberty will undoubtedly be the team to beat in the ASUN next year, but I think we can push them. Get ready for what Coach Hamilton dubs the "Most Exciting 40 Minutes in Sports" style of play. He doesn't call the press off. Ever. I believe last year the metrics showed that we has the second fastest pace of play in all of D1.

(04-20-2021 01:16 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  Not a fan of this new transfer rule.

The "power" programs are going to use mid-majors as a development league, and the mid-majors, in turn, will have to poach the low D-I and D-II programs.

It's going to be weird having college player recruiting become more important than recruiting high school talent.

I don't love it either, but I don't think that's necessarily true. We only lost two kids to programs from "better" conferences, but we got four D1 transfers which were all from conferences perceived better than the ASUN (Two from C-USA, one from the American, and one from the ACC). What's more is that they weren't really cast-offs either. Three out of the four were at least part-time starters at their previous program.

It makes it easier for players to transfer out, but it also makes it easier for them to transfer in. I think there are a few things to keep in mind:

-There's an initial rush because of this new option. I think things will eventually calm down as players see that not everyone who transfers up likes the result. It will be more than it used to be, but not as many as we're seeing right now.

-It's a virtual statistical certainty that the transfer #s will be lower next year because one in four D1 players is in the portal this year. It's important to remember that this is a one-time thing rather than a carte blanche ability to transfer at will.

-I suspect that one strategy mid-majors will adopt is what we seem to be doing this year. Find the kids from good programs who either got stuck behind someone amazing, don't love the style their playing, or are just looking for a change. You can get a lot of excellent players that way, and if they use their one-time transfer coming to you then they can't use it to leave you.

The Portal and the soon to be implemented one transfer/no penalty rule have made NCAA BB very interesting for sure. But, the Portal giveth and taketh. JU has both benefited and been hurt by transfers in the last few years. JD Notae was JU's best player a couple years ago but transferred to Arkansas. I thought that he was under recruited out of high school and if he was a couple inches taller (he's 6-1) he might have been at a higher level to begin with. At Arkansas JD was SEC 6th Man of the Year, and got to experience a great ride deep into The Tournament. On the flip side, JU got 6-10 Ohio State transfer Dave Bell. Bell languished for two years deep on the bench at OSU. After a redshirt/sit out at JU Bell ended up as the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, 2nd team all ASUN, averaged a double double and went off to Greece to play professionally. It really worked out well for both of these kids. I hope it works this well for every kid, but alas I am afraid it will not.

JU has been busy almost completely reworking their roster since the departure of HC Tony Jasick on March 8th. New Coach Jordan Mincy and staff have brought in five transfers to augment five holdovers (3 double digit scorers), and two High School
(Early) signees who chose to stay with the program.

The transfers are
Jordan Davis 6-3 SG SR MTSU (1)/Dayton (2) who started 77 of 87 games and averaged 30 mpg/9.5 ppg during career
Tommy Bruner 6-1 175 PG JR USCU averaged a career 30 mpg/13.8 ppg while starting 49 of 54 games
Osayi Osifo 6-7 225 PF SR Florida averaged 10 mpg/1.9 ppg/2.6 rpg in one year in Gainesville
Mike Marsh 6-10 250 C JR Dodge City CC averaged 14.5 ppg/7.4 rpg while shooting 71% FG & 79% FT over his last 10 JC games.
Gyasi Powell 6-2 185 CG SO Davis & Elkins College averaged 37 mpg/16.4 ppg as a Freshman at D2 program. Was 1st team all First Coast (NE Florida) at Jacksonville Bishop Snyder as a HS SR.

Mincy has one scholarship yet to give. I would expect he will be very judicious with that one and see what develops.

(04-20-2021 08:08 AM)eku05 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 01:16 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  Not a fan of this new transfer rule.

The "power" programs are going to use mid-majors as a development league, and the mid-majors, in turn, will have to poach the low D-I and D-II programs.

It's going to be weird having college player recruiting become more important than recruiting high school talent.

I don't love it either, but I don't think that's necessarily true. We only lost two kids to programs from "better" conferences, but we got four D1 transfers which were all from conferences perceived better than the ASUN (Two from C-USA, one from the American, and one from the ACC).

Meh. I think EKU's case is the exception and not the rule.

Quote:Meh. I think EKU's case is the exception and not the rule.

I don't think there's any doubt that our current staff is killing it on the recruiting trail, but I think the point is that the players are there to get. If the players on the rosters at power conference schools are getting squeezed out of playing time by those schools plundering us, then logic would dictate that those players either have to just accept their new, more crowded situation or go somewhere else.

Players transfer for a lot of nuanced reasons, and your school just might be the one that can offer them the kind of situation they're looking for. The players transferring out of our mid-major programs have generally never played in a major conference. For them it's a Utopian promised land.

For the players transferring out of bigger conferences...they've been there. They know it isn't the unblemished paradise they once idealized it to be. They might be more worried about some of the specifics of the situation than the general prestige of the big time name on their jersey. Or maybe they're just ready for a change of scenery. Regardless, I'm sure our staff will have a maroon and white jersey ready for them to put on if they want it. I suspect many other schools will follow suit.

(04-21-2021 08:23 AM)eku05 Wrote:  

Quote:Meh. I think EKU's case is the exception and not the rule.

I don't think there's any doubt that our current staff is killing it on the recruiting trail, but I think the point is that the players are there to get. If the players on the rosters at power conference schools are getting squeezed out of playing time by those schools plundering us, then logic would dictate that those players either have to just accept their new, more crowded situation or go somewhere else.

Players transfer for a lot of nuanced reasons, and your school just might be the one that can offer them the kind of situation they're looking for. The players transferring out of our mid-major programs have generally never played in a major conference. For them it's a Utopian promised land.

For the players transferring out of bigger conferences...they've been there. They know it isn't the unblemished paradise they once idealized it to be. They might be more worried about some of the specifics of the situation than the general prestige of the big time name on their jersey. Or maybe they're just ready for a change of scenery. Regardless, I'm sure our staff will have a maroon and white jersey ready for them to put on if they want it. I suspect many other schools will follow suit.

A prime example is Asher O’Hara (QB for MTSU). He was one of the best to do it at MTSU. He lead CUSA in passing yards the last two seasons. He decided to transfer and ended up at Sacramento State. A lot of times the grass isn’t greener and these kids will figure it out. You better be really good if you’re looking to move up.

Interesting addition for the Flames:

https://mobile.twitter.com/bryson_spell/...6838164481

(04-20-2021 08:00 AM)eku05 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 07:23 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  EKU lost two big components of the team. Kendall Green Jr. transferred to Auburn and Tre King to Georgetown.

Picked up two transfers from Marshall and a guard from Wichita State.

A couple of additions/corrections:

It's Wendall Green Jr. rather than Kendall.

But despite losing two first team All-OVC guys, I'm pumped about next year's team.

The two kids from Marshall are both 6'9". One is a big dude who can bang around inside, and the other kid is more athletic as well as a decent three-point shooter.

The kid from Wichita had originally committed to EKU last year and is circling back around (probably in response to the Green situation). He played with his brother in his lone year as a Shocker.

But Steve, you left out the biggest transfer grab of all which is Braxton Beverly who started nearly 90 games in the ACC at NC State. He had the most three pointers in his first two seasons of any player in NC State history, and he has an historically good A/TO ratio as well. He played for our head Coach AW Hamilton on the post-grad prep team at Hargrave Military Academy, is a native of Hazard, KY, and also spent a year with Hamilton when he was on the staff at NC State.

It's also worth mentioning that our leading scorer from 2018-19, Jomaru Brown, should be returning after missing all but four games with an injury this past season. Coming out of his sophomore season he was on-pace to leave EKU as the all-time leading scorer if he played four seasons. He tested the draft waters in 2019 before coming back to EKU.

Liberty will undoubtedly be the team to beat in the ASUN next year, but I think we can push them. Get ready for what Coach Hamilton dubs the "Most Exciting 40 Minutes in Sports" style of play. He doesn't call the press off. Ever. I believe last year the metrics showed that we has the second fastest pace of play in all of D1.

I know it is Wendell. It was a typo so please don't be supercritical of my phone typing..

Yes, Beverly is a great pickup. It will be interesting to see how well Brown recovers from the torn labrum.

Just need to see how all the pieces mesh.

Also happy we extended AW's contract.

Virginia Tech
Virginia

I would like to play these two annually, alternating so that one is home and the other is away. This brings nearby P5 fans to our place while giving us an opportunity to beat higher profile schools.

2 solid Virginia mid-majors (home/away)

Playing more Virginia schools gets us an opportunity to knock off nearby schools in higher rated conferences while bringing fans to our arena that typically wouldn't and gives our fans easy trips to make. Opponents that make sense include Old Dominion, VCU, Richmond, George Mason, James Madison, etc.

Tournament (two-ish games)

Playing in a tournament is always fun. Usually you get to play one big time opponent, maybe more. Hopefully it would be in sweet location that helps recruiting and allows alumni further away to attend. I guess tournaments may be exempt from the OOC numbers but I'm adding it anyways.

North Carolina, Duke, or NC State
South Carolina or Clemson

Here's two buy games where we travel to the Carolinas. Since we don't have an ASUN presence there and it is a big alumni location for us, I'd like to make the trip there. The P5 school doesn't really matter, but being P5 is important for visibility should we do well (sorry Wake Forrest; you just don't have enough people to care about you to make it worth it to travel there even if you are the best chance for a win).

Right now I'm at eight games, three home and away and two neutral sites. The 2019 - 2020 schedule shows 15 OOC games with three away, six neutral sites (assuming two tournaments based on when they occurred). So for my final six games, I'll just load up on winnable home games of teams from surrounding states. A few Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, etc. that we wouldn't play in the ASUN and is close enough to bring fans.

(04-21-2021 07:38 PM)cruzan_flame13 Wrote:  Interesting addition for the Flames:

https://mobile.twitter.com/bryson_spell/...6838164481

Big get for Liberty, the Rich get Richer

Lipscomb got a very nice addition in 6-9 Valpo Fr transfer Jacob Ognacevic. Ognacevic averaged 6.3 ppg/2.0 rpg in only 12.9 mpg. He shot a strong 54.5% FG & 51.7% from 3. Should have an immediate impact in the ASUN.

On another note it would appear that Asadulluh will return for his 5th year, which is great news for Lipscomb.

Tony Pujol has done a nice job of filling the void left with the departure of Littles and James. UNA has signed 6-10 220 Damian Forrest from from Cleveland State CC & 6-8 200 Deraji Agbaosi from Phoenix Prep in Arizona. Both look promising, but Forrest looks ready to contribute right away. Forrest started at U of Michigan/Dearborn and averaged 8.3 ppg/4.4 rpg as a freshman. He transferred to CSCC & averaged a double-double (15.2 ppg/10.4 rpg) on 56% FG /71% FT. They most likely won't replace Littles/James significant productivity in 2021-22 but it is a nice start.

FGCU's Recruiting Class took a huge hit when Ja'Heim Hudson opted out of his LOI and opened up his recruitment again. Hudson is a highly regarded 6-7 225 PF out of Snellville, GA. A tough break for Fly.

Diamond Head Classic this December in Hawaii
Liberty
Stanford
USF
BYU
New Mexico State
Hawaii

LIBERTY PROJECTED STARTERS
Sr. - F - 6’6 - Keegan McDowell
Sr. - G - 5’9 - Darius McGhee
Jr. - F - 6’9 - Blake Preston
Jr. - F - 6’7 - Shiloh Robinson
Jr. - F - 6’7 - Kyle Rode
So. - F - 6’7 - Micaiah Abii
So. - G - 6’3 - Drake Dobbs
So. - G - 6’4 - Jonathan Jackson
So. - G - 6’5 - Isaiah Warfield
Fr. - G - 6’3 - Brody Peebles
Fr. - G - 6’3 - Joseph Venzant
Fr. - G - 6’3 - DJ Moore
Fr. - F - 6’9 - Bryson Spell

This is my best guess. Obviously McGhee, Rode, and Preston will start.

A well done 2020-21 Season recap on the ASUN site.

https://www.asunsports.org/sports/mbkb/2...0430bgiwtl

(05-07-2021 01:11 AM)army56mike Wrote:  LIBERTY PROJECTED STARTERS
Sr. - F - 6’6 - Keegan McDowell
Sr. - G - 5’9 - Darius McGhee
Jr. - F - 6’9 - Blake Preston
Jr. - F - 6’7 - Shiloh Robinson
Jr. - F - 6’7 - Kyle Rode
So. - F - 6’7 - Micaiah Abii
So. - G - 6’3 - Drake Dobbs
So. - G - 6’4 - Jonathan Jackson
So. - G - 6’5 - Isaiah Warfield
Fr. - G - 6’3 - Brody Peebles
Fr. - G - 6’3 - Joseph Venzant
Fr. - G - 6’3 - DJ Moore
Fr. - F - 6’9 - Bryson Spell

This is my best guess. Obviously McGhee, Rode, and Preston will start.

Loaded!

JACKSONVILLE

SR - F - 6-7 - Bryce Workman* - Averaged 9.9 ppg/6.9 rpg in 14 ASUN games. Had a 33/7 game vs. Stetson in season finale
SR - F - 6-7 - Osayi Osifo - Florida transfer where he averaged 10 mpg/1.9 ppg/2.6 rpg
JRR - F - 6-6 - Tyreese Davis* - Averaged 11.7 ppg/4.6 rpg in ASUN
SRR - G - 6-2 - Kevion Nolan* - Averaged 35 mpg/19.7 ppg/3.6 rpg/3.0 apg/2.1 spg in injury shortened (7 games) ASUN season
JR - G - 6-1 - Tommy Bruner - Averaged 30 mpg/13.8 ppg in two seasons at USC Upstate. All freshman team in '19-'20, HM all Big South LY

BENCH

SRR - G - 6-3 - Jordan Davis - Career 30 mpg/9.5 ppg in three seasons at MTSU (1) & Dayton (2)
JR - C - 6-10 - Mike Marsh - JUCO transfer averaged 11.7 ppg/6.9 rpg at Dodge City
SO - G - 6-2 - Gyasi Powell - Averaged 37 mpg/16.4 ppg at D2 Davis & Elkins as a freshman
SO - C - 6-9 - Cameron Boozer
FR - F - 6-7 - Matthew Lentz
FR - G - 6-0 - George Pridgett
FRR - F - 6-9 - Zameron Boozer

* Returning Starter

Coach Mincy still has one scholarship to offer/fill. I would assume they are looking at a Guard.

Stetson & FGCU picked up players today.

Stetson signed 6-5 200 Wing Alvin Tumblin from Sebring, Florida. Tumblin is reportedly very athletic but a bit raw. Tumblin was on JU's radar prior the coaching change.

FGCU picked up 6-6 225 Tulsa transfer Austin Richie. Richie averaged 6.7 ppg/2.1 rpg in 18.3 mpg in his one year at Tulsa. Prior to Tulsa Richie was a 3rd team JC All American at Triton (Ill) CC after spending his freshman year at Northern Illinois. He fills the void left when Ja'heim Hudson opted out of his LOI.